title: Experimental lung collapse following deployment of a self-expandable bronchial occluder in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Closure of a bronchopleural fistula is required to prevent fatal empyema or aspiration pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of bronchial occlusion with a self-expandable occluder to induce experimental lung collapse in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 bronchial occluders (wine glass appearance; 8 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length) were implanted in the native left main bronchi of 10 rabbits via an endotracheal route. We analysed the following: (1) diameters and morphological changes of the bronchial occluders during follow-up; (2) percentage volume of the collapsed lung during follow-up; and (3) complications and gross pathology. 1-day and 2-week follow-up CT scans were routinely obtained. Rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks after the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 10 rabbits, the bronchial occluders were successfully implanted and were completely expanded within 2 weeks. Complete collapse of the left lung occurred in three rabbits on day 1 and in an additional two rabbits 2 weeks following implantation. Two other rabbits maintained the percentage volume of the collapsed lung between 51% and 99% during follow-up; the other three rabbits had <50% during follow-up. Pneumothoraces occurred in nine rabbits, but completely resolved at the 2-week follow-up. Right lung herniation across the midline progressed 2 weeks after occluder implantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placement of self-expandable occluders in a rabbit bronchus model was feasible and showed a potential to induce artificial lung collapse. While pneumothoraces were common, they resolved during follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eulji Medical Center, University of Eulji College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y-K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: T-H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E-Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D-H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011817:Rabbits; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed